If you’re looking to get out of the city for a weekend (or for life), Woodstock could not be a better destination. Cute town, fresh air, top notch restaurants, spa and if you’re looking for the most epic, pet-friendly, prime location Woodstock place to stay, I can’t recommend Woodstock Way Hotel enough.

Located in the heart of Woodstock, Woodstock Way is steps from the town center (like literally 10 steps), next to a waterfall — I mean how is that even possible? The hotel features 12 rooms divided along the property with a chic interior and the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept on. It’s paradise, especially since they have a full coffee bar in the lobby, and like really legit, good coffee, and cappuccino’s (you know I’m picky). The decor… I mean I had a tub in my living room, and also a balcony to over look the waterfall. I didn’t want to leave.

The location doesn’t get more prime, the staff is so friendly, we loved the owners, and the stay could not have been more comfortable. The had the fire pit going at night, and Charlie (my pomeranian), made himself right at home and was so welcomed.

While in Woodstock, we had lunch at Oriole 9, delicious, healthy eats, also great for breakfast and located on the main drag. Dinner at Cucina, a stunning, romantic, Italian restaurant that lives in a restores farmhouse a mile or so up the road. Relax at Glo Spa, for facials, a massage, it’s amazing. Also on the main drag with all the shops is Euphoria Yoga if you need to stretch out. When you’re done with the town, drive to the town of Kingston for some very cool antique shops. Woodstock Way Hotel can also help with planning your itinerary, they have some great links on the site on what to do: https://www.woodstockway.com/woodstock-way-of-life/

This weeks BOSS series features one of my all time beauty hero’s, Dineh Mohajer. She’s the original founder of Hard Candy, back when they had that chic rectangular packaging with a plastic ring on top (I used to wear them on my pinky) and introduced pastel nail polish into the industry. I used to shop them Urban Outfitters in high school and will never forget seeing Alicia Silverstone on the David Letterman show (scroll to 4min 28seconds) rocking her Sky Blue polish and being obsessed!!! Since selling the company she re-entered the nail polish industry starting another iconic nail polish brand Smith & Cult, which has legendary packaging and art direction and has grown it to a full makeup line featuring lips, eyes and face. She is wildly creative (follow her @dinehm and @smithandcultmy), my spirit animal, and can’t be more excited for her to be sharing her awesomeness and advice with us in this weeks BOSS series.

After you sold Hard Candy, what made you want to jump back into nail polish? And then years later expand into a full makeup line?

I never returned because I never really left. After Hard Candy was acquired by LVMH, my partner from Hard Candy, Jeanne Chavez, and I created, developed and sold another baby, called Goldie, to the Limited Brands. Smith & Cult was just another step in a natural progression for me.

How has the industry changed since you launched Hard Candy vs Smith & Cult. What resources make your life easier/harder?

Some aspects have remained identical at the core. The underlying motivation to feel happier, healthier and prettier is still intact. The joy of discovery, experimentation and success regarding product, packaging, imaging, education and branding has also remained the same. Our technological advancement has changed the manner in which we do all this, in some ways for the better and in some ways for the worse. For me, technology has allowed me to better articulate my creative vision more quickly and fluidly.

Use code: LARA25 for an extra 10% off, plus free shipping on orders over $25 on Avon.com

I’m on Avon.com!!!!!!!! I’m so excited to have partnered with Avon for their holiday preview party, where they unveiled some very exciting new products and the look I created for their website. I was going for a modern yet old Hollywood vibe for my custom holiday look. I paired a classic red lip with a bold eye lined in emerald green for some added festive fun.

Before I jump into the look, can we take a second to appreciate their limited edition “Iconic Avon” lipsticks? I’d say the packaging is everything, except that the lipstick is equally epic in formula and you can’t beat the price (only $6.99)! They have such rich pigment and glide on my lips so easily and smoothly. I’m wearing the shade Holly Red as seen in my photos. Also, their True Color Glimmersticks (lip liners and eyeliners) are so creamy, pigmented, retractable and only $2.99 – stock up! They are such a score! You can also use code: LARA25 for an extra 10% off, plus free shipping on orders over $25. This is a one-time use offer, so make it count!

All good makeup starts with good skincare so I started by prepping my skin with Avon’s ANEW Hydra Fusion Replenishing Serum, followed by the ANEW Hydra Fusion Gel Cream,which I mix with a few drops of Avon’s True Color Dazzle Drops for an overall glow.

TIP: The moisturizer is like water (it’s not heavy) so it’s great to dab a small amount over makeup during the day for touchups if you start to feel dry or want your skin to have a more dewy glow.

Next, using Avon’s True Color Moonlit Highlighting Powder in Topaz as a bronzer. I applied it in the shape of a 3 starting at the temple going along the cheekbone and then down around the side of the face to the chin. Then, using the In the Blush of Dawn palette from the Iconic Avon Beauty Classics Collection 3-Piece Palette set, I used the upper left bronze blush over the cheek bone portion of the True ColorMoonlit Highlighting Powder for some extra emphasis. Then, I went back in with the True Color Dazzle Drops above my cheekbone up to my brow bone in the shape of a “C” and blended fully. I also applied about a drop of the product on my finger and dabbed it down the bridge of my nose and blended for a slight highlight.

I grew up on Winnie the Pooh, so in honor of Disney’s Christopher Robin coming to Blu-ray, DVD and Digital on November 6th and our Hundred Acre Wood friends, I’m sharing my favorite honey infused beauty products and benefits. I even dressed Charlie as Pooh for our screening and have been saying “Silly Old Bear”, to him ever since.

This movie made me me so happy and nostalgic for my childhood. It was the perfect blend of fantasy and reality and watching my much loved childhood friends, Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Rabbit, Roo, Kanga, Owl, and Eeyore come to life was so special. You’ll probably enjoy it more than your kids… and relate to Christopher Robin; who as an over worked adult misplaces his priorities until he gets some help from some childhood friends. And what’s better than honey, Pooh? Not much when you think about the benefits of both eating it and putting it on our skin. So much more than a delicious treat, it’s used in many beauty products because of it’s anti-bacterial, antioxidant and moisture boosting properties.

Honey also plays well with other ingredients and is a great formula enhancer! Origins took their best-selling Clear Improvement Charcoal mask earlier this year and added Golden Wildflower & Fermented Honey to create Clear Improvement Charcoal Honey Mask. Historically, charcoal masks can be very drying and for more oily skin, however with the addition of honey it’s enabled more normal to dry skin to draw out impurities that charcoal is famous for without the tight, drying feel.

*Win a Trip to Palm Springs!* Did I ever tell you the story of a girl who went on vacation to Palm Springs and came home with a dog? Two years ago I took a @JetBlue flight to Palm Springs✈️, stayed at the @WestinMissionHills and living in the lobby was a little doggy in need of rescuing. That trip was so magical for the mountains, nature, the sound bath, the shopping the food, town... but most of all meeting my best friend. - See where all the magic happened @VisitGreaterPS is giving away 2 @JetBlue tickets to Palm Springs +

⚡️GIVEAWAY⚡️Celebrating our @MarieClaireMag feature with a BOSS babe #giveaway from my accessories line. We’re gifting three sets of our Boss Rings to you and a friend + our water bottle chain! To enter: 1️⃣Follow @prettyconnected + @prettyconnectedshop 2️⃣ Like this photo & leave a comment 3️⃣Extra entries for tagging friends you’d like us to gift to. *contest is open to US residents and the winner will be announced via stories/comment on this post on 11/28. This giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram. Good luck! #contest#prize#boss#bossbabe#bossring